Red Cedar Chamber Music: Crossover Quartet

Electric guitar? Yes! Composers Blake Shaw (double bass) and Dan Padley (electric guitar) join the core ensemble to form an eclectic string quartet. Several jazz standards will be offered as well as original works by both artists. Blake has been exploring the "Freegrass" style for years and has created a suite especially for us, and Dan's unique sense of harmony and counterpoint will be on display through a multi-movement work. Don't miss this inspiring collaboration.

Miera Kim is the Executive Director of Red Cedar Chamber Music and violinist in its core ensemble. AN Iowa native, she began her violin studies with Doris Preucil at the Preucil School of Music. Miera was a longtime titled player in both Orchestra Iowa and the Quad Cities Symphony and is in high demand as a teacher, clinician, and chamber musician across the region. She has also served as a grant panelist for the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Miera studied with Allen Ohmes at the University of Iowa and Jascha Brodsky at the Curtis Institue of Music. She plays a 1735 Nicolo Galiano violin. 

Cellist Carey Bostian is the Artistic Director of Red Cedar Chamber Music. As an educator and performer, he sees himself as a storyteller, and presents - new and old - in an innovative cultural and historical context whenever possible. Having premiered and commissioned hundreds of new works, he is committed to promoting  the music of living composers. Carey received a BM from The Ohio State University in 1993 and continued his studies at the Unviersity of Iowa, earning a DMA in cello performance with Charles Wendt, and an MFA in orchestral conducting as the last student of James Dixon. For two decades, Carey was Principal Cellist of Orchestra Iowa, leaving the position in 2015 to become Artistic Directore of RCCM. He has been conductor of the Iowa City Community String Orchestra since 1998, and teaches cello privately. He also serves on the conducting faculty at the Preucil School of Music. Carey alternates between two cellos depending on repertoire - a 1922 GGiuseppe Pedrazzini and a Giovita Rodiani cello made before 1622.

Blake Shaw is a double bassist, vocalist, composer/arranger, and educator residing in Iowa City, IA where he received his B.M. in classical double bass performance as well as an MA. in jazz studies at the University of Iowa. Shaw has played with many top artists, taking him as far as Australia and as near as your living room. His main groups are the Blake Shaw Quintet, Thrio, Goose Town, and the Clinton St. Trio. In the Blake Shaw Quintet, Shaw explores new colors and concepts with a band full of composers. Shaw's 2019 vocal jazz album called "it happened", features his own arrangements of jazz standards played in a way you've never heard them before. The Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band (11 piece jazz big band) musicians are university professors, high school band directors, and other friends and stellar jazz musicians.

Dan Padley is a guitarist/composer based out of Iowa City, IA. Since studying music at the University of Iowa, he has performed with many artists, including Wayne Newton, Deb Talan, Elizabeth Moen, River Glen, Dana T, Blake Shaw, comedian Jimy Pardo, and many more. Dan has released numerous albums and EPs including his most recent full length "Bloom". His music combines sounds of jazz, ambiance, Americana, and film music.